Medical connector with elongated portion within seal collar
Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to medical connectors with a housing comprising a proximal body member and a base member that form an internal cavity with a proximal abutment surface. An elastomeric seal without a guide member is positioned within the internal cavity. A rigid, hollow elongated portion is located within the internal cavity such that in an open configuration, a tip of the elongated portion is more proximal than a proximal surface of the elastomeric seal.
1. A medical connector comprising:
a housing comprising a proximal region and a base region;
the proximal region comprising:
a proximal opening, a slanted internal abutment surface, and a distal portion comprising a first plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions; and
the base region comprising:
a proximal portion with a second plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions, the second plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions of the base region being interposed between the first plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions of the proximal region;
a rigid, hollow elongated portion that is stationary with respect to the housing, the elongated portion comprising a proximal tip positioned within the proximal region, an external surface, an internal surface, and an internal fluid passageway within the elongated portion; and
an elastomeric seal with a closed position and an open position, the seal comprising: a proximal end that is located in a position to permit effective antiseptic wiping, a collar, an o-ring adjacent to and proximal from the collar, and a distal end, an external surface, and an internal surface, the collar of the seal comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
wherein the seal is integrally formed of a single piece of material from the proximal end of the seal to the distal end of the seal adjacent to the base region of the housing;
wherein in the closed position, a first portion of the internal surface of the seal that is proximal from the distal end of the collar is adjacent to the external surface of the elongated portion, a second portion of the internal surface of the seal that is proximal from the first portion of the internal surface of the seal is spaced from the external surface of the elongated portion, and a third portion of the internal surface of the seal that is proximal from the second portion of the internal surface of the seal is adjacent to the external surface of the elongated portion; and
wherein no guide member surrounds the collar;
wherein in the closed position, the collar contacts the internal abutment surface of the proximal region, thereby stopping proximal axial movement of the seal; and
wherein in the open position, the collar is separated from the internal abutment surface, and the proximal tip of the elongated portion passes through the proximal end of the seal such that the proximal end of the seal is distal from the proximal tip of the elongated portion.
2. The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the o-ring on the seal comprises an external surface that extends radially outwardly beyond a portion of the external surface of the seal that is adjacent proximally from the o-ring and beyond a portion of the external surface of the seal that is adjacent distally from the o-ring.
3. The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured to achieve neutral displacement.
4. The medical connector of claim 3 , further comprising an internal closure system that is separate from the elastomeric seal.
5. The medical connector of claim 4 , wherein the internal closure system comprises a dome valve.
6. A medical connector comprising:
a housing comprising a proximal region and a base region, the proximal region comprising a proximal opening and a slanted internal abutment surface;
a rigid, hollow elongated portion that is stationary with respect to the housing, the elongated portion comprising a proximal tip positioned within the proximal region, and a substantially straight internal fluid passageway within the elongated portion; and
an elastomeric seal with a closed position and an open position, the seal comprising a proximal end, a collar, an o-ring proximal from the collar, and a distal end, the proximal end of the seal in the closed position being generally flush with the proximal opening of the proximal region of the housing to permit wiping for effective disinfection, and a proximal external surface of the collar being connected to the proximal o-ring by a continuously curved surface;
wherein the seal is integrally formed of a single piece of material from the proximal end of the seal to the distal end of the seal adjacent to the base region of the housing; and
wherein no guide member surrounds the collar;
wherein in the closed position, the collar contacts the internal abutment surface of the proximal region, thereby stopping proximal axial movement of the seal; and
wherein in the open position, the collar is separated from the internal abutment surface, and the proximal tip of the elongated portion passes through the proximal end of the seal such that the proximal end of the seal is distal from the proximal tip of the elongated portion.
7. The medical connector of claim 6 , wherein the proximal o-ring of the seal is adjacent to the collar.
8. The medical connector of claim 6 , wherein the connector is configured to achieve neutral displacement.
9. The medical connector of claim 8 , further comprising an internal closure system.
10. The medical connector of claim 9 , wherein the internal closure system comprises a dome valve.
11. The medical connector of claim 6 , wherein the seal comprises only two openings, a resealable opening on the proximal end of the seal biased to a closed position, and a distal opening on the distal end of the seal.
12. The medical connector of claim 6 , wherein the proximal end of the seal is even with the proximal opening of the housing in the closed position.
13. The medical connector of claim 6 , wherein the proximal end of the seal protrudes proximally slightly beyond the proximal opening of the housing in the closed position.
14. A medical connector comprising:
a housing comprising a proximal region and a base region, the proximal region comprising a proximal opening and a slanted internal abutment surface;
a rigid, hollow elongated portion with an external surface and an internal surface, the elongated portion being stationary with respect to the housing, the elongated portion comprising a proximal tip positioned within the proximal region, and a substantially straight internal fluid passageway within the elongated portion; and
an elastomeric seal with a closed position and an open position, the seal comprising an external surface and an internal surface, a proximal end, a collar, and a distal end, the proximal end of the seal being generally flush with the proximal opening of the proximal region of the housing to permit wiping for effective disinfection;
wherein the seal is integrally formed of a single piece of material from the proximal end of the seal to the distal end of the seal adjacent to the base region of the housing;
wherein in the closed position, a first portion of the internal surface of the seal that is proximal from a distal end of the collar is adjacent to the external surface of the elongated portion, a second portion of the internal surface of the seal that is proximal from the first portion of the internal surface of the seal is spaced from the external surface of the elongated portion, and a third portion of the internal surface of the seal that is proximal from the second portion of the internal surface of the seal is adjacent to the external surface of the elongated portion;
wherein no guide member surrounds the collar;
wherein in the closed position, the collar contacts the internal abutment surface of the proximal region, thereby stopping proximal axial movement of the seal; and
wherein in the open position, the collar is separated from the internal abutment surface, and the proximal tip of the elongated portion passes through the proximal end of the seal such that the proximal end of the seal is distal from the proximal tip of the elongated portion.
15. The medical connector of claim 14 , wherein the internal surface of the seal contacts the outer surface of the elongated portion in the closed position.
16. The medical connector of claim 15 , wherein the internal surface of the seal contacts the outer surface of the elongated portion around the perimeter of the elongated portion in the closed position.
17. The medical connector of claim 14 , wherein the medical connector is configured to achieve neutral displacement.
18. The medical connector of claim 17 , further comprising a regulator.
19. The medical connector of claim 18 , further comprising an internal closure system.
20. The medical connector of claim 19 , wherein the internal closure system comprises a dome valve.
21. The medical connector of claim 14 , wherein the proximal end of the seal is even with the proximal opening of the housing in the closed position.
22. The medical connector of claim 14 , wherein the proximal end of the seal protrudes proximally slightly beyond the proximal opening of the housing in the closed position.
23. The medical connector of claim 14 , wherein a portion of the seal comprises an undulating contour shape configured to facilitate resilient compression, the contour shape being produced by a series of o-rings integrally formed together.
24. The medical connector of claim 14 , wherein a portion of the seal comprises an undulating contour shape.